JANUARY 8, 2009 issue
Rock & Roll
The Best Live Music of 2008
Story by David Brewer
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Um, scratch that. I think somebody might have used it before in a book a while back. Anyway, the live music scene in Boone during the last 12 months was in ways, reflective of the national turbulence that dominated national headlines seemingly every day.
Perhaps the lowest point of the year came when flames began licking over the stage at Boone Saloon, causing Grateful Dead cover band Cosmic Charlie and the 70 or so patrons to head for the exits. In addition to displacing dozens of regulars from their favorite haunt, the venue’s six-month absence left a significant void in the scene.
Other venues bit the dust as well including Baxter’s Smokehouse and the Blackboard Restaurant in Banner Elk. The Library in Boone disappeared for a time, thankfully returning in the fall. Even the venerable Black Cat Burrito halted its weekly musical offerings, leaving many (including me) shaking their head in disbelief.
But it was far from doom and gloom throughout ’08. On the contrary, there was much to cheer about as the passage of liquor by the drink encouraged expansion and growth in unexpected places. Murphy’s renovated its bar, installing a much larger stage by the door where bands can finally play without hitting their heads on TVs or each other. Pepper’s Restaurant opened a new bar section with twice-weekly live musical offerings from small acts. Port Christopher’s Seafood took the place of Baxter’s and picked up where the failed barbeque joint left off with bands.
Green Eggs & Jam moved to the former Grapevine location and immediately increased its live music schedule, proving to be one of the only places in town where kids under 21 can attend shows. Even Reid’s Café hosted a couple of shows, including Melissa Reaves’ rocking Halloween concert on the front lawn.
The opening of the Dragonfly Theater & Pub was the single most exciting occurrence for live music lovers. With a spacious interior and better-than-average acoustics, the room began hosting shows from a wide assortment of bands to complement its cinematic offerings. While its location has hampered attendance at some shows, others have packed the room front to back. With luck, owner Sheri Baker will be able to exploit her resources and bring larger acts that other local rooms can’t accommodate in 2009.
As we ease into another year, the High Country music scene remains diverse with an ever-evolving cast of artists looking to find their niche among the dozens of acts slugging it out at local venues, competing with hi-def TVs, video games, digital video recorders, the always-unpredictable weather and each other. With luck, the growing population at ASU will help the scene grow to be much bigger and hopefully, much better.
The Afromotive
The time when jambands ruled the local music scene seems to have come and gone. Fortunately, acts like The Afromotive transcend indulgent soloing by cranking out long, monster grooves that keep dancers from spending too much time at the bar. Armed with a rhythm section that can won’t quit and a powerful horn section, The Afromotive’s High Country shows are always a party.
Hoots & Hellmouth
Gospel-inspired power folk trio Hoots & Hellmouth returned to the High Country for a pair of blistering shows that left no doubt as to why the Philly-based group is receiving national media attention. Stomping on plywood platforms outfitted with multiple tambourines while churning out compelling, harmony-laden folk rock, the band sounds something like a less Appalachian-influenced The Avett Brothers—except they can tune their instruments, sing on key and aren’t overly melodramatic.
Jerry Douglas
Jerry Douglas is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the resonator guitar. Period. Sure, there are people out there who can really wail on the Dobro, but not like Jerry. He’s a freak of nature with a slide on his finger who seemingly defies the laws of physics, and the Alison Krauss sideman didn’t disappoint with his set at Music on the Mountain.
Johnny Neel & The Criminal Element
He may have only played with the Allman Brothers Band for a couple of years during the late 1980s and early 1990s, but Nashville-based keyboard player and vocalist Johnny Neel remains a force to be reckoned with. Local music fans (especially John Rush) welcomed the blind musician’s return to Murphy’s and the VFW with his band The Criminal Element as the band delivered hours of jamming funk and blues-drenched rock.
The Kruger Brothers
You could have heard a pin drop in the Hayes Center as The Kruger Brothers began their late fall show with their melodic ode to Wilkes County, “Up 18 North.” Brothers Jens and Uwe their longtime bassist Joel Landsberg, along with sometimes vocalist Maynard Holbrook, played, sang, joked, told stories and proved once again why they should stand alone as western North Carolina’s premier string band.
Major Magick
They’re young, they’re confident and they’ve got a frontman with some of the best pipes in town. Major Magick is poised to become one of the best new acts in Boone and they’ve clearly got the skills to do it. Blending over-the-top, Zappa-esque guitar rock with in-the-pocket soul grooves and progressive rock chops, Major Magick needs only to harness their disparate influences into a sound of their own to excel beyond talented local band.
Matt Walsh
Whether with his band or playing solo, Statesville’s Matt Walsh has a deep appreciation for the blues, channeling Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and his mentor “Steady Rollin’” Bob Margolin on guitar and vocals. Performing what he calls “house rockin’ music,” Walsh has become a welcome addition to the regularly rotating cast of characters frequently performing at multiple venues in the High Country.
Mörglbl
Did you hear the one about the French funk fusion power trio named Mörglbl that features one of the best guitarists in the world rocking Canyons last summer? It’s no joke. I’m still kicking myself for missing this show. According to High Country guitar whiz Andy Page, Mörglbl guitarist Christophe Godin virtually peeled the paint off the walls as the band blazed through a night of fat grooves and jaw-dropping displays of guitar virtuosity. Take that Eddie Van Halen.
Naked Gods
In 2008, Naked Gods did what has proven to be a nearly impossible feat for scores of local bands—they actually made fans who weren’t their friends while playing original music. Playing mostly around town to an ever-expanding and devoted following, the band delivered the High Country’s most ambitious musical offering with their sophomore effort, Welcome Home. The band closed out the year in style with a packed performance at the Dragonfly Theater alongside Possum Jenkins and the Lost Ridge Band.
Sally Jaye
Living the musician’s dream, Georgia singer-songwriter Sally Jaye gathered a couple of suitcases, moved to Los Angeles and began penning mournful country tunes about her Southern upbringing, filling an album with the hopes and heartaches of a small town girl. Jaye’s High Country performances proved to be an arresting performer, as she delivered her lilting story songs with understated conviction to attentive and appreciative audiences at Canyons and Boone Saloon.
Stephanie’s Id
In a sea of banjos, jambands and roots rock, Asheville indie pop band Stephanie’s Id dares to be different. Delivering dense, heady grooves like a mix between a grittier, stripped down Björk and rock-inflected Billie Holiday, Stephanie Morgan and her band are leading the charge for modern rock bands to stand and be counted in a city better known for traditional music. The band’s show ats Boone Saloon opening for Naked Gods was a breath of girl-powered fresh air and hopefully the first of many.
Surefire Bluegrass Band
Some of the members of Surefire Bluegrass might not have been shaving very long, but that didn’t stop them from taking top honors at the inaugural HayesGrass competition at the Hayes Center in Blowing Rock. After releasing their first album just over a year ago, the band played festivals and events all over the High Country to scores of new converts. Surefire Bluegrass Band is proof that bluegrass music is alive and well in Boone.
The Waybacks
The buzz began building at the event dubbed the MerleFest Album Hour, when The Waybacks, along with an all-star cast of friends, played Led Zeppelin II in its entirety. When the band finally arrived at the Horn in the West amphitheater for their Daniel Boone Days performance, the audience was primed, dancing in the aisles and everywhere else during The Waybacks’ jubilant blend of Texas swing, jazz and rock.
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